Opening up stadiums for Kenny Chesney's No Shoes Nation tour was a bit of an adjustment, said James Young, guitarist for the Texas-based Eli Young Band.

"It would have been nice if we could have actually warmed up with an arena or amphitheater," Young said of playing the tour kick-off at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla., in March. | May 15, 2013»Read Full Article

Empire of the Sun

Buzz about Empire of the Sun's over-the-top live production preceded its arrival Tuesday night at Summerfest's Miller Lite Oasis. The electronic-focused Australian group didn't disappoint on that front early in the headlining set. After a 10-minute bass-pounding, Daft Punk-sampling set from DJ Rik Fade, neon light-wrapped dancers twirled across a stage bathed in the blue glow of a bright LED screen. "Old Flavours" was an intense spectacle of bouncy synthesizers, throbbing beats and blinding lights. | July 3, 2013»Read Full Article(1)

The Los Angeles-based indie pop band Youngblood Hawke spent a few minutes with Tap Milwaukee before the group's show tonight at the Harley-Davidson Roadhouse. Watch Nik Hughes, Alice Katz, Simon Katz, Sam Martin, Omar Ahmed and Tasso Smith perform an acoustic version of their single "We Come Running" outside the Summerfest grounds. | July 2, 2013»Read Full Blog Post

As you get prepared to celebrate the holiday, which probably means a stop at the store for a frosty beer, consider for a moment the history of America. Well, consider the recent history of American craft beer.

And how better to understand American history than with a map such as this craft beer map from the New Yorker. The map is based on newly released 2012 data from the Brewers Association. Wisconsin, you will note, is smack in the middle on a couple fronts. | July 2, 2013»Read Full Article

How subversive of Disney to release during the Fourth of July holiday a comedy action film that is in part about the American Indian genocide.

Those who go to "The Lone Ranger" because it stars Johnny Depp will come away satisfied by a performance that reminds them of his "Pirates of the Caribbean" character. And the film contains elements — silver bullet and "William Tell Overture" included — familiar from the TV series and, before that, radio show. | July 2, 2013»Read Full Article

After witnessing Gru transform from a super-villain to a super-dad with a Play-Doh heart at the end of 2010's "Despicable Me," there was just no way there wouldn't be a sequel.

And "Despicable Me 2," which opens in theaters Wednesday, is better than the original — but not for its storytelling. The 98-minute movie replaces things like plot details with what the audience is clearly more interested in seeing: minions, adorable daddy-daughter moments (Gru, voiced by Steve Carell, dressing up as a "Gruzinklebell" princess for Agnes' birthday) — and of course, for Gru to find the girls a mommy. | July 2, 2013»Read Full Article

THREE TO SEE: JULY 2

Something Known: New Kids on the Block (7:30 p.m. Marcus Amphitheater). Pleasures don't come much guiltier than watching 40-something men performing boy band staples from the '80s and early '90s, but NKOTB isn't pure nostalgia. Its "Remix (I Like The)" is one of the boy band's best singles. | July 2, 2013»Read Full Article

For this week’s Design Ideas, you’re reaping the benefit of a recent sick day. The cure for my cold was sleep, lots of liquids and plenty of Internet scavenging.

I happened to ask myself: What are the best documentaries about design?Here are a few that make my list. Some you’ll have heard of, others I dug out of the recesses of the Internet, my DVD closet and the minds of design-interested chums who were also online. Most are readily available at Netflix and elsewhere. | July 2, 2013»Read Full Blog Post(1)